Solid lubricant



Patented Jan. 13, 1942 SOLID LUBRICANT Harry E. Johnson, Willoughby,Ohio, assignor to The Lubri-Zol Corporation, Cleveland, Ohio, a

- corporation of Ohio No Drawing.

Application March 3, 1939,

Serial No. 259,563

7 Claims. ((11. 252-) This invention relates, as indicated, tolubricating compositions, and more particularly to a lubricant which issolid at ordinary temperatures.

There has longbeen a demand for a lubricating composition suitable forthe lubrication of automobile door latches, dove tails of automobiledoors, hood lacings, and the like, which will be eflective for thepurpose and yet suitable for application under all conditions oftemperature. Such a lubricant should be of such consistency that it canbe formed into sticks for easy handling during application and shouldnot become too hard or brittle in cold weather, nor too soft and plasticin warm weather.

It is, therefore, an object of my invention to provide a lubricatingcomposition having the aforesaid desirable characteristics and which isrelatively inexpensive to produce. 5

It is a further object of my invention to provide a solid lubricantwhich when applied to door latches, the slides of drawers and the like,will I not in a short time flake off or crumble under use but will leavea comparatively dry tenacious lubricating film.

My invention, then, 'consists of the steps hereinafter fully. describedand particularly pointed out in the claims, the following descriptionset-' all such unctuous materials as are suitable for lubricatingpurposes. Candelilla wax is a vegetable wax obtained in the Mexicanregion. I have employed a form of this wax known as Candelilla flakedrefined wax which has a melting point of 160 F., acid number of 18 andester number'of 36. When combined with a mineral lubricating oil inproper' proportions, the solid lubricant resulting from suchcombinationwill remain solid and suitable for use in warm weather andyet will not become too brittle at low temperatures; In this it differsfrom most other waxes, such as paraffin wax. Carnauba, Ceresin andOzokerite waxes when mixed with mineral oil also produce hard brittlesticks which are generally unsatisfactory. Most solid lubricants whencompounded of a wax and a liquid oil have a tendency to become flaky andcrumble during use, and hence are of little advantage as lubricants.This is generally due to the fact that the wax crystallizes in the oiland the lubricant loses its homogeneous character. Candelilla wax, onthe other hand, will remain properly combined with the oilfor anindefinite period.

A further advantage of candelilla wax is its pleasant odor which notonly serves for its identification, but also obviates any necessity forthe addition of perfuming materials. .It is likewise one of the leastexpensive of the high melting point waxes.

My new lubricating composition may comprise from about 30% to about 60%candelilla wax by weight with the remainder lubricating oil. Theviscosity of the lubricating oil may range from to 32000 Saybolt secondsat 100 F. and usually preferably from 100 to 1000 sec. depending on theexact qualities desired in the finished product. Generally the lowviscosity oils produce a product which is inclined to crumble while theproduct formed from high viscosity oils will have a greasy texture.animal orsynthetic oils form equally satisfactory products when combinedwith candelilla wax. The choice of lubricating oil depends upon the costand exact qualities desired in the finished product, a Mid-ContinentPale oil having a viscosity of 300 seconds Saybolt at 100 F. beinggenerally suitable.

If petroleum jelly or petrolatum be employed as the lubricating oil,candelilla wax may be employed in conjunction therewith in amounts ofabout 25% to about 60% by weight resulting in a very satisfactory solidlubricant which is sufiiciently firm and solid for the purpose desired.

11 a mineral lubricating oil be employed, then the quantity ot wax to beadded may generally range from about to about 60%. Since the resultantprodliqt is generally of a slightly brownish color, it may be desirableto add from .1% to 10% of a coloring material such as lithopone orwhiting.

A typical formula illustrating the composition of my new solid lubricantis the following:

Per cent Double refined candelilla wax 54.0 300 pale oil 43.5 2.5

Lithopone A lubricant of the above composition may be employed toproducea stick having a satisfactory melting point and good consistency withreference to stickiness, flaking, etc.

As above pointed out, waxes other than candelilla wax, when employed incombination with I have found that vegetable or liquid lubricating oilshave a tendency to crystallize out therein, thus forming an inferiorproduct. Candelilla wax, however, forms a satisfactory lubricant whetheremployed in conjunction with a liquid oil or a semi-solid such aspetroleum jelly, although in the latter case a smaller proportion of thewax may be employed. The sticks may be formed by melting the wax, addingthe oil thereto, and mixing whereupon the lubricant is run into moldsfor cooling.

If desired, both mineral oil and petrolatum may be employed in the samecomposition, less candelilla wax being required the larger theproportion of petrolatum employed.

I prefer to incorporate a small amount of lithopone or whiting in all ofthe compositions of this invention to produce a more attractive articlebut it is, of course, to be understood that such addition is notnecessary.

In addition to mineral oil and petroleum jelly, other oils may beemployed in conjunction with candelilla wax, such as Vaseline, castoroil, and other animal and vegetable oils. Among the advantages resultingfrom the use of my improved lubricant, the following may be noted:

1. A proper degree of solidity is maintained at varying temperatureranges.

2. The ingredients of the composition remain in homogeneous combination.

3. The lubricant is suflflciently dry to eliminate danger of soiling thehands and clothing during its application or use.

4. The lubricant once applied remains in place and is eifective over along period of time having little or no tendency to become flaky orcrumbly during use. when a low viscosity liquid lubricating oil isemployed rather than petroleum Jelly.

5. Mineral oil may be employed with satisfactory results so that arelatively inexpensive stick is available.

Other modes of applying the principle of my invention may be employedinstead of the one explained, change being made as regards thecomposition and method herein disclosed, pro vided the ingredients orsteps stated by any of the following claims or the equivalent of suchstated ingredients or steps be employed.

I therefore particularly point out and distinct: ly claim as myinvention:

- 1. A solid lubricating composition comprising in combination petroleumjelly and candelilla wax as the major wax constituent.

2. A lubricating composition comprising in combination from about toabout 60% candelilla wax by weight and a lubricating oil.

3. A lubricating composition comprising in combination from about 30% toabout 60% candelilla wax by weight and a mineral lubricating oil havinga viscosity between and 32000 Saybolt seconds at 100 F.

, tion from about 40% to about by weight of This latter applies evencandelilla wax, lubricating oil, and a small amount of lithopone.

6. A solid lubricant comprising in combination candelilla wax as themajor wax constituent, petroleum jelly, and lithopone.

7. A solid lubricant comprising in combination candelilla wax as themajor wax constituent. mineral oil, and petroleum jelly.

HARRY E. JOHNSON.

